Car heater ventilator connection



Aug. 8, 1944. A. B. ARNOLD 2,355,501

CAR HEATER VENTILATQR CONNECTION Filed Oct. 31, 1940 Y 2 Sheets-She'et l a"? f I l I I l I I I f nus-721$)" Q'rZ-Aufj 627 10222 Au 8, 1944. I

A. B. ARNOLD CAR HEATER VENTILATOR CONNECTION Filed Oct. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w J y I My n Patented Aug. 8, 1944 v UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcs CAR HEATER VENTILATQR CONNECTION Arthur B. Arnold, Racine, Wis., assignor to Mo- I din .Manufacturing Company, ,Racine,"Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 31, 1940, Serial nolssam 5 Claims.

The invention relates generally to heaters or the like, and more particularly to means for connectinga vehicle heater to a cowl ventilator or other similaropening. v

I In the 'lastfew years vehicle heaters have undergone numerous changes, one of which is the connection of the heater-to an exterior source of fresh air, rather than merely heat and circulate the air inside the vehicle. In most instances the cowl ventilator of the vehicle is utilized for supplying fresh air to the heater.

However, due to the construction of both the vehicle and such new type of heaters, it was practically essential that they be designed for each other, in-other words the heater was designed for th particular make or model and the vehicle designed to receive that particular heater. Consequently, such type of heater is employed substantially on only certain makes of cars and for which the heater was especially de signed. Even in those makes of cars designed for such heaters difiiculties were encountered due to slight inaccuracies in the assembly of the car body etc, which rendered it difficult to mount the heater in the car particularly in connecting the heater to the fresh air supply, the latter in most cases being the cowl ventilator. Obviously,

where an all-metal heater construction is employed relatively slight inaccuracies in the car body hamper and slow up the installation of the heater.

The present invention has therefore among its objects the production of means for connecting tion of connecting means which may be readily designed to fit various makes and models of automobiles so that by merely using the proper .connector the same type of heater may be installed in cars of difierentmakes and models, of both .old and new cars.

A further object :of the invention is theiproduction of .such a connector which will permit freemovement of the ventilator cover, and .at the same time provides a leakeproof water-tight connection from the .cowl opening to the heater.

. Many other objectsand advantages of the invention herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art .from the disclosurehereingiVen.

' -To end'my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination .of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out .in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate'like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view .of a heater and a portion of a cowl of a vehicle, the cowl and upper portion of the heatershown in section to illustrate-the details of the invention;

Fig. :2 is a sectional view taken substantially .on the line 2-2 of Fig-1;

Fig. .3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3.3.of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a. perspective view of the connecting means, the latter being shown partially in section; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the ventilator .cover in anopened position.

Referring to the drawings .and more particularlyto Fig. 1, l designates generally anautomoebile heater, Fig. .1 showing the same inside ,ele-

vation. The heater 1 may .be .of any suitable construction, that illustrated being of the socalled hot water type, having pipes 2 which :may :be connected into the cooling system of the car for operating theheat exchanger in the heater. The latter is designed for installation adjacent the bulkhead between the motor and passenger .compartments, a .portion of .a bulkhead .being shown in dotted lines as at 3.

The heater comprises a housing having a fresh air inlet 5 at the upper end thereof, the inlet 5 being disposed, in the present instance, at an angle from the horizontal. The heater illustrated is provided with a .filter 6 positioned intermediate the inlet 5 and the heat exchange unit (not shown) and in operation air is :drawn through the inlet .5 and filter 6 from which it passes into the heat exchanger and out a suit- .able opening in the tfrontside wall 11 of the housing into .the passenger compartment. The .spe- .cific detailsof the heater 1 including the filtering means 6 and heat exchanger .iorm no part of the present invention, and therefore, are not shown in detail. The heater when installed, as

illustrated in Fig. 1, is spaced from the underside of the .cowl 8 of the vehicle body with the air inlet 5 40f (the heater disposed below and in approximate alignment with the cowl opening .or ventilator, designated generally by the numeral :9. The latter is of the usual construction having a peripheral channel LI in which is positioned .a gasket 12 of rubber or other suitable material :cooperable with the usual closure .mem-

. -ber l3 toseal the-opening. The closure member .13, in the present instance, is pivotally supported from .a suitable bracket 14 secured to a .rigid part of the body, said pivotal supporti-ncluding a plate member 15 secured to and extending ,;downwardly from the bottom of the closure-meme ber, arms [6 rigidly secured at each end to the plate l and each pivotally secured to the brackets l4 so that rotation of thearms 16 will raise the plate l5 and closure member l3 therewith to uncover the opening 9, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

Connecting the opening 9 with the air inlet is a flexible member ll of a generally tubular shape. The latter at its upper end 18 is of approximately the same size and shape as the opening 9 and passes over the upwardly extending flange I9 forming the channel II where the free peripheral edges of the member are positioned 29 and fastened by bolts or other suitable means to the plate l5, instead of the construction illustrated. I

I It will be noted that the front wall 29 and the connecting member I! is non-planar in shape, the length or height of the wall 29 being greater "than the distance between the front wall 32 of the housing 4 and the corresponding edge of the This fullness at the front wall per- .plate l5 and arms l6 to freely move up and down below the gasket l2 and secured thereto by, ce-

ment or other suitable means, thus, forming a substantially air and water-tight joint'between the two. The member [1 maybe formed of any suitable material preferably of a water-proof rubberized fabric, or the like, which; would not permit the passageof water or air therethrough, at the same time being relatively flexible or pliable, and is cut and shaped by any of the usual method's. The opposite open end 2| is formed to fit the air inlet .5 of the heater unit with the walls of the member I! positioned adjacent the periphery of the inlet. The member may be secured to the unit by any suitable means, one form being illustrated in the drawings, or by cement etc. In the present instance, the top 22 of the heater is provided with a downwardly extending flange 23 formed at the periphery of the inlet 5, the adjacent rear wall 24 of member I! being folded back upon itself to. enclose: the-flange 23. Overlying the portion of the member adjacent the inner face of the flange 23 is a bar 25, which, incidentally is provided with means 26for' holding the filter. 6 in position. Rivets .or .bolts 21 pass through the bar 25, the adjacent folded portion of the member I1. and the flange 23 firmly securing the member to the housing 4. The side walls 28 and front wall 29 are similarly secured adjacent their bottom edges to the side walls 3i and front wall 32, respectively, of the housing 4, the extreme bottom edges of the walls 28 and 29 being folded back, as shown at 33, and. positioned between'bars 34 and 35, the bars 34 being positioned adjacent the side walls 3| and the bar 35 adjacent the front wall 32 of the housing. Bolts or rivets 36, similar to those used for securing the rear wall to the housing, pass through the respective bars and the adjacent folded over portion of the member l1 and side wall to secure the member I! thereto. It will be noted that, the fastening means 21 and 36 only extend through the folded over portion of the walls 24, 28, and 29 so that any water running down the inner walls of the member I! will not come in contact with the fastening means, preventing rusting or corrosion of the same. The front wall 29 of the connecting member I1 is provided with slits 31 through which the closure supporting arms l6 extend, the front wall 29 being secured by cement or otherwise adjacent. the slits 31 to the plate l5 to form an airetight joint between the closure supporting means and the wall. A lug or ear 38 also secured to the plate I5 extends through a slit 39 in the wall 29, the slit being similarly sealed to prevent the passage of air or water therethrough. The car 38, as illustrated in Fig. 1, may be connected with an operating handle 4| by any suitable means such as a link 92,v so that the opening and closing of the closure member I3 may be controlled by the handle 4|. Obviously, the arms is and ear 38could if desired be mounted on a suitable bracket, positioned at the outer face of the wall therewith, as the closure member is opened or closed. Thus, when the closure member is in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, the front wall 29 will have a bulged portion 43 positioned below the plate l5 while the-upperportion-M above the supporting member 16 is more or less flat. Similarly, when the closure memberis in an open position, such as illustrated in Fig. 5,'the lower portion 43 of the wall will be more or less flat while the upper portion 44 will be bulged. It will therefore be apparent, that the front, wall 29 is of a length to permit that portionthereof,'secured to the plate [5 to freely move with the closure assembly throughout the opening and closing movements thereof.

It will be noted from the above that the connecting member I! provides means for effectively connecting the cowl opening 9 with the air inlet 5 of the heater unit, the member providing a substantially air and water-tight connection between the two, at the same time providing means whereby the easy action of the closure means is not affected, and at the same time providing an air andwater-tight connection between the connecting 'member and the closedactuating means. Likewise, accurate alignment of the air inlet 5 with the opening 9, such as would be necessary, if a rigid connecting member were utilized, is eliminated as the flexible nature of applicant's connecting member readily compensates for inaccuracies in alignment whereby the use of applicants device for installation of heaters in both old and new'automobiles is clearlysimplified.

-. Any suitable insect screen may be provided either on the closure member l3 or positioned, across the mouth of the opening 9.

When installed in new cars the heater unit may be installed in the usual manner without extremely accurate alignment of the air inlet with the cowl opening and after the unit is mounted on the bulkhead, the cowl gasket,.carrying with it the adjacent portion of.-the connecting member I1, is passed through the opening and placed in its proper position, the same thenbeing cemented down if desired. The supporting arms I6 of the closure means are then attached to the respective supporting brackets completing the installation. If the heater unit is to be' installed in an old automobile a cowl gasket of the proper size having the connecting member I] attached thereto is merely substituted for the original gas ket on the car, the connecting member being cut or otherwise formed to provide passage of the closure supporting means through the sidewall which is secured to said means in a manner similar to that previously described; Of course,- in such installation it. may be necessary to provide a slightly different form of actuating lever, etc., for that originally on the car. It'will be apparent that the use of the present invention permits a dealer in' auto heaters to carry substantially one type of heater, as such dealercan 'readily install the heater in various types-'of 'car's#merely by using a connecting imemberand cbwl gasket-of the proper shape and size. It would even be possible for the dealer to keep a stock of different sized cowl gaskets on hand, which the dealer could at the time of heater installation select the proper gasket and cement the connecting member ll thereto. Thus, a single type heater could be installed in various cars, requiring the dealer to keep on hand merely different sized gaskets and at most several different types of connecting members. Obviously, by rendering a single type of heater substantially universal in installation, the dealer is not required to keep several dlfierent sizes and types in stock on hand with a consequent loss in profits.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a novel connecting means for heaters, or other air conditioned units for vehicles, or the like, which provides efiicient means for connecting the cowl opening with the air inlet of the unit, as well as, simplifying installation and rendering such unit substantially universal in application.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a connecting device of the kind described and in combination, a cowl having an air inlet therein, a cover therefor, a tubular shaped member constructed of pliable material having its upper edge secured to said cowl around the air inlet thereof and its lower edge secured to a stationary element around an air inlet, a plate secured to said cover and extending down into the interior of the tubular shaped member, and actuating means including a link disposed entirely exteriorly of the tubular shaped member, and connected to said plate by an car which is secured to the plate and extends outward through a slit in a wall of the tubular member, and pivotally mounted arms secured to said plate and extending outward through slits in said wall of the tubular shaped member, said wall being adhesively secured to said plate around said slits, and said wall being of a size to allow bodily shifting movement of said wall together with said plate.

2. In an air conditioner for vehicles having a body, one wall of which has an opening therein for the passage of air therethrough, a, heat exchange unit having an air inlet therein, a flexible member providing connecting means between said wall opening and the air inlet of said unit, a closure member for said opening, actuating means operatively related to said closure member for opening and closing the same, said means extending through and secured to one wall of said flexible member whereby the latter is bodily shifted by the movement of said actuating means to permit free operation of said closure member, said flexible member being tubular in shape and having one open end thereof connected to the periphery of said air inlet, a gasket member positioned adjacent the periphery of said wall openin: ensazeable with said closure member to seal the latter, the opposite open end of'said flexible member being secured to said gasket to form a substantially air tight conduit extending from said wall opening to the air inlet of said heat exchange unit for the passag of air from said opening to said unit.

3. In an air conditioner for vehicles having a body, one Wall of which has an opening therein for the passage of air therethrough, a heat exchange unit having an air inlet therein, a closure member for said opening, a gasket positioned adjacent the periphery or said opening cooperable with said closure member to seal the opening, a tubular flexible member having the peripheral edge of one open end thereof secured to said gasket, the peripheral edge of the opposite end being secured to said unit in registry with said air inlet, actuating means operatively related to said closure member for opening and closing the same, said means extending through one of the ide walls of said flexible member intermediate the open ends thereof and secured to said one wall to form a substantially air tight juncture, said side wall being of a size to permit movement thereof with said actuating means when the latter is being operated to open or close said closure member.

4. In an air conditioner for vehicles having a body, one wall of which has an opening therein for the passage of air therethrough, a heat exchange unit having an air inlet therein, a closure member for said opening, a gasket positioned adjacent the periphery or said opening cooperable with said closure member to seal the opening, a hollow hexible member having the peripheral edge of one open end thereof secured to said gasket, the peripheral edge of the other open end being secured to said unit in registry with said inlet, actuating means operatively related to said closure member for opening and closing the same secured to a side wall of said flexible member, said side wall having a non-planar shape to provid a flexible wall having sufiicient fullness to permit the same to move with said actuating means when opening and closing said closure member.

5. In an air conditioner for vehicles having a body, one wall of which has an air inlet opening therein, a heat exchange unit having an air inlet opening therein, a cover for controlling said air inlet opening in the wall of the body, a tubular connecting body constructed of pliable material, one end thereof being secured to said wall around said air inlet opening and the other end being secured to said heat exchange unit around the air inlet opening therein, a plate secured to said cover and extending down into the interior of the tubular connecting body, and actuating means for said cover including said plate and a link disposed entirely exteriorly of the tubular connecting body and connected to said plate by an ear secured to the plate and extending outward through a slit in one wall of said tubular connecting body, and swingable arms secured to said plate and extending outward through slits in said wall of the tubular connecting body, the latter and said plate being adhesively secured together around the slits, and said wall of the tubular connecting body be ing of a size to allow shifting movement of said wall when the actuating means is operated.

ARTHUR B. ARNOLD. 

